Ingo

Docked at Cape Town

12. Dezember 2019 von Ingo Kommentar verfassen

Docked at Cape Town

Reaching Cape Town, South Africa on 12.12.2019 09:45 local time

After leaving Réunion on the 8th of Nov. 2019 her Skipper Ingo knew, that a tough passage would be coming up. But it exceeded his expectations. But all this is a thing of the past now. He is happy up to the max., that he could pick up his crew Immanuel in Durban and sail with him safely to Cape Town where they arrived this morning.

The first two days from Durban on where difficult and they were facing high winds twice up to 45 knots but afterwards, they where in good weather and had a calm and easy cruise to Cape Town.

The boat is tied up at the port of Houtbaai, Cape Town, South Africa now.

Unfortunately, the crew can only stay there for three nights, before heading to the Caribbean, because Immanuel had booked his flight from Martinique to Germany already, they have to reach Martinique on the 7th of February 2020. This deadline gives them 53 days for the passage to the Caribbean. So they have to move on to make it in time.

Some repair jobs have to be done on Faule Haut and provisioning for the Atlantic crossing is due. Too sad, there will only be little time for sightseeing.

Especially the skipper is looking forward to having a few nights of good sleep, like you landlubbers can enjoy every night.

Praise the Lord for his protection on this unforgettable passage.

You have got to watch these seals. They even try to sneak on your boat, like this on on a neighboring catamaran.

Under Radar

12. Dezember 2019 von Ingo Kommentar verfassen

12.12.2019 09:18 local time

Two nauticle miles left to reach our port in Cape Town we experience this: fog.

Visibility under 100 m. We were scared to run into other boats coming out the port.

For safety, I turned the radar on

Around the Cape

11. Dezember 2019 von Ingo Kommentar verfassen

11.12.2019 13:20 local time

Sailing round the Cape right now. Faule Haut is just going round the southernmost point of South Africa.

BUT – it is not Cape of Good Hope, as most people think. The southernmost point is Cape Agulhas. She has 108 nm left to go to Cape Town.

The last two days it was perfect sailing. She is making over 5 kn of speed and should reach Cape Town tomorrow afternoon. Skipper Ingo and Crew Immanuel are in high moods.

Crew Caught Fish

10. Dezember 2019 von Ingo Kommentar verfassen

While we are sailing along the South African Coast, with 254 nm left to go to Cape Town, Immanuel caught a tuna this morning right in time for breakfast.

It wasn’t such a big one, but definitely enough for a meal for two. Delicious tuna steaks.

Shortly after that, he had a bigger fish on the rod, but unfortunately the line broke and we lost line, lure and hook

Out of Danger

9. Dezember 2019 von Ingo Kommentar verfassen

Faule Haut has passed the most challenging leg on her circumnavigation – the Mozambique Channel and the South African Coast between Richard’s Bay and Port Elizabeth.

She is just speeding along the South African Coast, making 7.3 knots, and has just past Port Elizabeth.

What comes now, will be a walk in the park compared to what she experienced within the last three weeks.

A great relief for Skipper Ingo and Crew Immanuel.

The forecast look as good as never before, which means a safe cruise from now on is expected.

Thank God for his protection through a bunch of ordeals.

There are 405 nm left to their next stop, which will be Cape Town, and they should get there in less than four days.

Regrets

7. Dezember 2019 von Ingo Kommentar verfassen

Cruising along the South African coast about 80 nm south of Durban, I just received this email from my weather guru Des.
That man can read my mind:

„Dear Ingo
I am sure by now you are having some regrets about being out there…“

That guy is so darn right.

My answere to him tells you what we are in right now:

„Hi Des, you can read my thoughts. And you do know the weather well.
I knew it was gonna be tough, but I didn’t expect it to come that bad. It’s even worse than WINDY is showing in their forecast.

Being right in it. I’m in 44 kn of wind with gusts up to 54.

High waves and uncomfortable swell. This is between purgatory and hell. But what am I talking – you know all that.
It’s good that I have cell phone connection so I can get the forecast. According to WINDY the wind should go down from noon on. Slowly – but that will be a relief. They better not lie to me.
A big wave flooded the cockpit 15 Minutes ago and I was soaking wet and just changed my clothes…“

Sailing is bad, when you are tied up to a schedule. This will be a loooooong day.

Leaving Durban

6. Dezember 2019 von Ingo Kommentar verfassen

Leaving Durban with ne crew. Faule Haut Skipper Ingo is in top mood.

I picked up my new crew, Immanuel, yesterday, a young but experienced sailor from Germany who will join me across the Atlantic up to the Caribbean. This will make the cruise a lot more interesting and entertaining and most likely less dangerous as well. He is a very sympathetic guy and we both are looking forward to the upcoming experience.

Immanuel has been a great help this morning already, when he fixed a disattached step on the companionway, which was not an easy task, because of the little access space in the motor compartment.

Shortly after that we got 100 liter diesel delivered to the boat.

It’s almost unbelievable: Durban is a huge port with hundreds of boats, but they don’t have a gas station for the pleasure craft. All fuel has to be carried to the boat by jerry cans. Same as I experienced in Indonesia.

A strong black guy came to the boat an asked for a job. He offered to clean the entire hull for just 400 South African Rand (26,- € or 30,- $US)

This came in handy, because it was full of barnacles again. I had the intention to do the cleaning myself once we reach Cape Town, but for that low price I decided to let him do it. This helped both of us. That fellow did a great job and Faule Haut is clean now and ready for the Atlantic crossing.

But first we need to get to Cape Town. We are still sailing along the South African Coast in the Agulhas current where it is extremely dangerous if the weather is not playing right for you.

We left Durban two hours, ago and rIght now we are having good winds from astern.

Tomorrow it’s supposed to change and we will be facing southerly winds which will be very bad for us. But according to the forecast, this should only last for about one day. On from tomorrow morning we’ll be having a pretty uncomfortable cruise.

All the other boats here that are heading for Cape Town are waiting for Sunday to leave, but because we are already 9 days behind our schedule we decided to start today. Up to East London there will be no shelter along the coast, so we hope the weather won’t get to rough.

Leaving Richard’s Bay, SA

4. Dezember 2019 von Ingo Kommentar verfassen

Having cell phone connection, I’m able to post this right from the boat on this website. Two hours ago, Faule Haut has left Richard’s Bay and is heading towards Durban to pick up his Crew Immanuel, who is waiting there already. The wind is facing the bow, as the high waves (up to 5 m) as well, FAULE Haut is running under motor. It’s a very uncomfortable ride. Luckily the waves are not breaking. But with the wind and the waves against me, I’m making only 2 kn of SOG. I should reach the Agulhas Current in about 10 nm and hope that this will give me a boost. But that only works, if the waves won’t break. If they break, I have to get back closer to the coast and would not have the advantage of the current.

SDA Church Richard‘s Bay

30. November 2019 von Ingo Kommentar verfassen

30.11.2019

I visited the SDA Church at Richard‘s Bay, South Africa, where I met my brothers & sisters. Being the only white one and in spite of my ugly pale face, they accepted me as their brother 😉 and I got invited to join them for lunch on the lawn, where we had good talks. Thank you guys, for your hospitality and friendship.
Stay close to the Lord, and we will meet again.

Skipper Ingo on SY Faule Haut.

Still waiting

30. November 2019 von Ingo Kommentar verfassen

At Tuzi Gazi, Richard’s Bay.

There is a well known rule for sailing: Never have a schedule!

Among the boats here at Port Tuzi Gazi at Richard‘s Bay, South Africa, there are about 25 that are going to make the same passage to Cape Town like me. Everybody I talked to, has contact with the weather guru Des Cason and is listening to his advice. We are all waiting for a change of the weather.

I check it every few hours, but it doesn’t look favorable.

On Monday it looks as if it starts to get better, but on Tuesday, the winds are blowing from the south right against the Agulhas Current. And this with a speed of 30 knots.

That’s exactly the weather pattern that produces these notorious rough waves. I wouldn’t mind waiting, but I’m expecting crew and it’s sure now, that I won’t make it in time to pick him up as scheduled.

Ingo

At Tuzi Gazi, Richard’s Bay.

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